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Well, it’s been a while since I updated & there’s been a lot happening behind the scenes – but more on that later 🙂 Today I’m reviewing “Rich & Rare” – another from the Ford Street Publishing stable. I was … Continue reading →

How do you place I hear you asking? Below is the list of agents participating in this year’s Nestpitch and next to them is a list of the Masks they will be wearing. Your job is to match the agent to the mask – that’s it!

The first person to correctly match all twelve agents to their masks wins! That’s it! (email timeline will be used to confirm who sent the correct entry in first)

And if there are no correct winners then those participating will go into a lucky draw and a winner will be selected at random.

When:

The window will only be open for TWO HOURS – that’s it, so timing is everything.

The Window will open on Wednesday May 13th at 10.30pm Australian EST. That’s 7.30am New York US time and 12.30pm UK time. I chose these times to ensure everyone, no matter where you live, can play along.

You don’t need to have participated in #Nestpitch2015 or to even follow this blog, all you need to do is get to know our agents – and I have no doubt you ‘all know these agents anyway.

Please make sure you send your selection ONLY during the open window because there are no second chances, I will not be sending any ‘too soon’ or ‘too late’ emails – it’s up to you to play along during the window only.

ONE GUESS PER PERSON! (please don’t try to hedge by using more than one email address, you may get away with it but damn if you will not carry some nasty Karma with you)

How to submit:

Send you email, with the correct subject line (see below), to nestpitch@outlook.com. Within the body of the email match all 12 agents to the masks you believe belong to them, for example:

If you fail to send your selection during the window or fail to put the above in the subject line, your email will be voided.

**Please note, there will be NO auto reply.

Please pass this on, re-blog if you’d like and tweet / re-tweet to pass the word along.

And now for the agents & masks (note they have all been alpha sorted & the below in no way suggests the correct match)

Camilla Wray

Bend it like Beckham Bunny

Cate Hart

Disco Bunny

Christa Heschke

Energizer Bunny

Dawn Michelle Frederick

Hippy Chic Bunny

Jessica Schmeidler

Ms. Soccer Bunny

Jordy Albert

Pancake Bunny

Maria Vicente

Professor Bunny

Mollie Glick

Rock Star Bunny

Patricia Nelson

Ski Bunny

Saba Sulaiman

Snow Bunny

Uwe Stender

Warrior Bunny

Valerie Noble

Wonder Woman Bunny

The winner will be announced on Tuesday May 19th 2015.

And to celebrate the Nestpitch blog rolling over the 25,000 hits mark in less than 19 months I have decided to give one lucky random person who submitted to Nestpitch2015 an additional $20 Amazon Voucher – winner to be announced on May 31st 🙂

Today I want to talk about the subject of diversity. It’s become a bit of a catch-phrase; which, frankly, always makes me nervous. It’s a bit like Political Correctness. Now, don’t me wrong, I am totally for BOTH diversity & political correctness. What I don’t like it people hiding behind these terms. Or using them as ‘band-aids’ as something to say (or write) to get out of actually dealing with the core issues of diversity (& political correctness, because seriously, can one be without the other?)

I’m a massive supporter of diversity in art. I want to see more social, cultural, sexual, age, religious, political, geographic diversity in all forms; in art, in business, in science… in other words, in life. But as Artists, we are in a privileged position. I believe that through art (visual, dance, music, writing, you name it) we open understanding and dialogue. I want to see more gay characters and non-Christian characters is books and in movies. I want to see more paintings and sculptures by and about indigenous people across the world. I want people with various religious beliefs depicted beyond stereotypical cliché’s. I want people of all ages represented in media and fiction. I want to discover new traditions and legends and myths. I want physical & metal health issues portrayed in movies and see people valued for their skills and talent and not just their cup size or height. I want to see plays and music and dance written and performed by groups I’ve never even heard of; so that I can hear of them and learn from them and understand them.

OK, so, have I made it clear I’m Pro-Diversity? Great. Now let’s talk about what I DON’T want to see, hear, read, touch, smell, taste.

A few days ago there was a link on Facebook to an article where Oxford University was recommending people not refer to pork products/references in novels because it might offend Jewish and/or Muslim readers. I will openly say I think this is taking political correctness too far. I also have to wonder why the same ‘study’ did not also recommend not mentioning beef products in case Hindu readers should be offended, or all meat products for fear of offending vegetarians, or all meat and dairy products, should that offend vegan’s. Sometimes things are so ‘politically correct’ that (in my opinion) they are simply wrong.

Personally, I think articles and studies like this are both divisional and unfair to the same people the studies are proclaiming to support/protect. I know a lot of Jewish and Muslim people; a lot. I would NEVER serve any of them pork, just as I never serve a vegan a piece of cheese. Having said that, my Muslim and Jewish friends don’t expect me to change everything about myself because their lifestyles vary from mine, after all, isn’t the point of diversity to acknowledge our differences and embrace what we can and accept openly even that which we ourselves do not adhere to.

Diversity. I want to see it in all its incarnations. Even so, there are things I do not want to be exposed to. I don’t wish to be exposed to bad writing or bad art. I don’t want to taste the bitter taste in my mouth with someone randomly picks a character with a political view or cultural background they know nothing about.

I don’t want to see ‘token’ characters. The token gay guy, the token Muslim, the token Marxist, the token blue-haired, pseudo-hippy-chick.

I don’t want to be made aware of just how poor an artist’s research is into a social group, or culture, or religion, has been.

I don’t want to be insulted, as a reader or a viewer, or an audience member (etc.) with any of these.

What I’m saying is this. Don’t write a Koori single mother into your novel and that’s it. Don’t create a gay or transsexual character and not do your research. Don’t make your character one dimensional, simply for the sake of being able to ‘label’ it GLBT or Ethnically Diverse (or similar).

Yes give me an Orthodox Jewish character but don’t end it at that. I want to know who this person is. Do they work in their own community or the larger community? Show me their struggles with meeting their religious obligations (religious holiday’s for example) while also being effective in the greater community. Give them dimension. Are they also mad-crazy about a sports team? If so, how do they manage their personal passions with their family commitments? Are they loud, are they introverted, are they studious, or do they like to go for a jog every morning? Have they struggled with inter turmoil or demons? Have they questioned their faith, or their place in the world? Have they been exposed to violence, a health issue, financial struggles?

THIS IS WHAT I WANT. I want a detailed, evolved, creative tapestry of character traits and experiences. I want interaction and intrigue and love and lust and danger and symbolism and manic behaviour and sadness and joy and hope and loss and opportunity… I want WHOLE genuine characters I can relate to, learn from and support. I want to be shown their world not simply told they are an Orthodox Jew or a lapsed Christian.

Think about it. Do you have gay friends? Conservative friends? Muslim or Hindu friends? Communist friends? How do you introduce them? Do you say, “This is Sue. Sue just move in next door.”

(because that’s what I’d say)

I bet you don’t say, “This is Sue. She used to be Peter, before the operation, oh and by the way, Sue is a Communist.”

There is nothing natural about the second version. Everything after “This is Sue” will (or should) be part of the development of the character. I want to be drawn in, shown who Sue is, what struggles Sue has faced, why she is who she is. I want to learn about the relationships Sue has. This is what I mean by TOKEN. If ‘Sue’ being a Communist is part of her character arc, fantastic, lead me on the discovery. If it’s simply a line you throw in here or there, as a way of saying “look at me, I’ve got a Communist in my book” that’s a diversity fail for me.

If you’re going to create a character like ‘Sue’ DO YOUR RESEARCH.

I’m not gay, nor a man.

My current WIP has a male main character, (actually its duel POV so it also has a lead female character, but you get my point). When I write in a male voice I work hard to channel my inner guy, but I also make sure I have male reader’s giving me their opinion. My male MC has a best friend who is mixed race and openly gay, and has a crush on my straight male MC. In this particular WIP there is a lot of out right sex, drugs, violence, lust and magic (it’s a re-tell BTW). There is also a lot of suggestive stuff. Some of the sex scenes (outright and suggested) are gay and to do justice to my character’s as well as my gay friends, I have various people read scenes not long after I’ve written them. I want the scenes to sound and feel authentic. I want them to be true to the people I am representing and I DON’T want them to come off as cliché.

Because of this (and other reasons), the current WIP is taking me a very long time to finish even draft one. But I know it’s worth the struggle because, frankly I don’t want to insult the cultures or the friends I’m representing. I don’t want them to be cardboard cut-outs. I don’t want them to be stereotypes or cliché. I don’t them to be single dimensional. Being labelled diverse IS NOT ENOUGH, they must be real and true and thought out and developed and multi-faceted.

And this brings me to an issue I have come across.

A few years ago I finished the first novel in a series. It was (is) a historical dark fantasy which begins in 10th century Europe and finishes (Vol#3) in 2038. The history is based on Croatian, Bulgarian & Austro-Hungarian (royal) history and the mythology is Pagan Slavic mythology. I had one agent tell me they liked the writing but STRONGLY suggested I pick a better known history and mythology. I didn’t take this advice. I didn’t take it because this is what I know and this is what I wish to share. That trilogy has been set aside, but not shelved forever, as I work on other pieces. Personally, I believe that piece of advice was wrong Wrong WRONG. I know that I can make the trilogy stronger, when I do eventually return to it; and I will. I also know that my culture and history has a market. I write what I know and what I’ve studied. I write (and paint) what comes to me, naturally, infused within my core. I write this because I know the voice will be real and genuine.

Recently I had someone (via email) comment on the “lack of African-American’s & all these white people” in my writing.

I did explain that I happen to live in Melbourne Australia and African-American’s are very few and far between. In fact, I have only ever met two African-Americans. One while living in France (and trust me USA friends, she was not the kind of person I’d want to base a cultural representation on) and the second, less than two months ago. The second woman is ½ African-American & ½ Turkish. She also happens to be Muslim. Her father and mother split up when she was a toddler with her (African-American) father returning to the US and having practically nothing to do with her until she was in her late teens. In other words, she knew (and still knows) virtually nothing about being African-American. She considers herself a mixed-race Muslim Australian.

What’s my point?

Do not write about people you have little or no knowledge of, without GAINING knowledge. If I happen to write about a group I‘m not so knowledgeable about, I make sure I have REAL people I can talk to, study and ask to read pages, in order to ensure I am doing them justice.

But wait I hear someone screaming, do I write about Koori’s (given I’m in Australia). My current WIP refers to Koori culture; however, as there are so many Australian Aboriginal languages, I tend to refer to more generic aspects of Koori life. For example, in my current WIP I use the myth of The Rainbow Serpent, (which I mix with Slavic, Druid and Celtic beliefs). I’ve known several people from various aboriginal groups. And because I have known several, I also know that each group has their own uniqueness. As I cannot do justice to any one group, I use my overall knowledge to represent Koori people but I don’t go into specifics, the same way I would for say a Croatian or French character.

Why? If a Koori were to read my novel(s) I don’t want them feeling insulted or misrepresented.

So I write (& paint) what I know and if I need to study a culture, or belief, or tradition, or geographic environment or era, I REALLY study it. And that is what I expect when I interact with another artist’s work.

I titled this post, Diversity; Life Imitating Art – Hopefully, as I believe that through art we open discussion and acceptance. But as artists we have an obligation to represent uniqueness and diversity with integrity and honestly. We have a duty beyond not falling into clichés; we have a duty to break them. We have a responsibility to push boundaries rather than perpetuating (often wrong) stereotypes. We have a calling to show humans for what they are, one race, and to help other’s not push people and groups into pre-conceived boxes.

We must encourage diversity but we must also acknowledge each of us comes from our own unique place. We should draw on the relationships we have and then expand our knowledge, our circle. We should be reading non-fiction as well as fiction. We should be the leaders in expanding our horizon’s, before expanding our art.

But most of all, (I believe), we should have a need, a hunger to present diversity with respect and with conscious endeavour to embrace all, not simply want to follow a catch-phrase or trend. We have the power to effect change, both as a consumer and as a creator. Or we can perpetuate indifference and lack of tolerance either by not embracing diversity or by not respecting the responsibility of creating diverse art. OK, jumping off my soapbox now. I would very much like to hear what others think about this post.

Today we have the last of our three blog posts under the Friendly-fire-feedback banner. Please note, I am in Australia so we are (currently) 14-hours ahead of the USA EST, so, depending on where you’re located, you may see this on the evening before. Below you’ll see the fist page without my notes and then with my suggestions beneath that. This way you can read the 1st page without my notes interrupting your rhythm.

And of course, comments are most welcome, in fact I insist! (lol) – please note, comments will be moderated, so play nice!

28th July

Category/Genre: YA Contemporary

Word Count:60,000

Last night, someone accused Gabbie Vanhout of having sex with Mr. Stevenson. It allegedly happened backstage after the drama club meeting on Thursday. It’s all over Trumbullconfessional.com. It’s an anonymous gossip site made by a couple of seniors from back
when the Internet was still dial-up. Mostly it’s just bullshit, people looking to score drugs, find the latest party, or just spread lies. But sometimes you hit confessional gold. Gabbie always has hair that looks like she stuck her finger in an electrical socket before coming to first period. She wears steel-toed combat boots, all black clothes, and barely speaks to anyone. There are rumors she drank bleach after taking finals last year.

The gossip is intriguing is because she likes to flirt with Mr. Stevenson. You can only catch it if you’re paying attention. She’ll stay at his desk a little too long—sometimes she’ll drop a piece of paper, a pencil, and fumble to grab it in a short black skater dress. Of course online, the conversation quickly veered towards the obscene, but the fact that someone else noticed what I had known for a while was interesting.

I brush foundation on my face, sweep blush over my cheeks and bronzer in the hollows of my neck and on my forehead. Sometimes I am so pale I worry people will think I’m albino. My vanity lights don’t help anything either. Gold eyeshadow, black eyeliner, and black mascara make me look somewhat more presentable, and concealer covers the dark circles under my eyes. I skip drying my hair and braid it into a fish thing I read in one of my sister Steph’s old magazines. I shimmy into jeans, a fitted tank top, and grab a granola bar- I never really was a breakfast person.

I pour myself the last bit of coffee from the pot my mom made probably two hours ago, and nuke it in the microwave. My shiny white phone bleeps.

Anything interesting on the tangled web last night Birdie? Jack Stewart always calls me Birdie even though my real name is Melissa. He says it’s because it’s always good to have a little birdie tell you secrets.

Just Gabbie Vanhout drama I answer. Pouring milk into my coffee I quickly scroll through morning status updates. “Ugh Halzer’s comp sci test.” is the only one I identify with.

Debrief at lunch? Jack asks and I roll my eyes. Sometimes I think he thinks we’re like detectives or something, trying our hardest to find the juiciest school dirt. And in a way we are. Jack likes to be in the know on everything, even though he doesn’t run with “the core” the popular crowd’s self-imposed nickname. Jack’s a Junior too.

I answer Jack: kk. I swallow my last sip of coffee before I hear Delilah laying on the horn. I grab my backpack from the front door and race down the sidewalk. She has a cute boxy Jeep to go with her small frame and big personality.

With my Notes:

Last night, someone accused Gabbie Vanhout of having sex with Mr. Stevenson. It allegedly happened backstage after the drama club meeting on Thursday. It’s all over Trumbullconfessional.com. It’s an anonymous gossip site made by a couple of seniors from back when the Internet was still dial-up. Mostly it’s just bullshit, people looking to score drugs, find the latest party, or just spread lies. But sometimes you hit confessional gold(love this line!). Gabbie always has hair that looks like she stuck her finger in an electrical socket before coming to first period. She wears steel-toed combat boots, all black clothes, and barely speaks to anyone. There are rumors she drank bleach after taking finals last year.

The gossip is intriguing is because she likes to flirt with Mr. Stevenson. You can only catch it if you’re paying attention. She’ll stay at his desk a little too long—sometimes she’ll drop a piece of paper, a pencil, and fumble to grab it in a short black skater dress. Of course online, the conversation quickly veered towards the obscene, but the fact that someone else noticed what I had known for a while was interesting. (have you noticed I’m not making many comments? That’s because this is working for me. It has voice and cheekiness and it has a direction; I already trust the author)

I brush foundation on my face, sweep blush over my cheeks and bronzer in the hollows of my neck and on my forehead. Sometimes I am so pale I worry people will think I’m albino. My vanity lights don’t help anything either. Gold eyeshadow, black eyeliner, and black mascara make me look somewhat more presentable, and concealer covers the dark circles under my eyes. I skip drying my hair and braid it into a fish thing(again, this is great, I can totally imagine this – great showing!) I read in one of my sister Steph’s old magazines. I shimmy into jeans, a fitted tank top, and grab a granola bar- I never really was a breakfast person.

I pour myself the last bit of coffee from the pot my mom made probably two hours ago, and nuke it in the microwave. My shiny white phone bleeps.

Anything interesting on the tangled web last night Birdie? Jack Stewart always calls me Birdie even though my real name is Melissa. He says it’s because it’s always good to have a little birdie tell you secrets. (again, I’m convinced that Birdie is a great nickname, given
what I already know)

Debrief at lunch? Jack asks and I roll my eyes. Sometimes I think he thinks we’re like detectives or something, trying our hardest to find the juiciest school dirt. And in a way we are(I’d remove this, it’s telling, and it’s kind of obvious & it’s not needed). Jack likes to be in the know on everything, even though he doesn’t run with “the core” the popular crowd’s self-imposed nickname. Jack’s a Junior too.

I answer Jack: kk. I swallow my last sip of coffee before I hear Delilah laying on the horn. I(comma)grab my backpack from the front door and race down the sidewalk. (consider removing the extra “I” – you’re going to have a lot of “I’s” because of the present tense, remove wherever you can. Plus this becomes a more active image)She has a cute boxy Jeep to go with her small frame and big personality.

NOTES:

Well, I don’t know about others, but I’d pick this up and keep reading in a heartbeat! Yes there are changes I’d make and the author will likely do more work after feedback, but, if this turned up in #Nestpitch, I’d be voting for it!

We still have a few things in the pipeline – Bunyip Sighting’s are possible and Scorecards are being tallied –

Now – lets Unmask Those Agents!

Pooja Menon – Cocktail Bunny

Gina Panettieri – Bookworm Bunny

M Melissa Jeglinski – Laptop Bunny

Cate Hart – Artist Bunny

Jordy Albert – Soccer Bunny

Sarah Negovetich – Juggler Bunny

Camilla Wray – Ninja Bunny

Dr. Uwe Stender – Mad Scientist Bunny

Erin Niumata – Shopper Bunny

Pam van Hylckama – Giant Bunny

And we have one clear winner of the $25.00* Amazon Gift Voucher. Out of respect and privacy, we’ll keep her (yep it’s a female) to ourselves and have emailed the winner, though, I have a feeling you might hear about it on twitter 🙂

We have now completed the Request List, (not including any Bunyip requests).

All those who had pages requested will receive an email from me. some have already been sent out, the rest will be sent over the next 4-8 hours. If you had a pitch with a request but have not received an email by 10pm April 20th USA EST (mid-day April 21st Aust EST), please contact me as it’s important you understand and adhere to the request submission requirements.

And we can announce the winners of the other Amazon Vouchers up for grabs!

– Dr. Uwe Stender requested a FULL for DM-5: The Winter King – NA/Urban Fantasy

Each Author will receive a $12.50* Amazon Gift Voucher

And Dannie’s team just pipped a few other’s with the pitch with the most requests

– at 5 requests for DM-6; YA/Contemporary- CHEMICALS COLLIDE

That author will receive a $10.00* Amazon Gift Voucher!

*Note – all e-voucher values are in AUD and winner will need to confirm email their details – an email will be sent to sent to all four winners within 24-hours, if you are one of the winners and do not receive an email in the next 24 hours with the SUBJECT LINE of AMAZON VOUCHER WIN, please email me. The e-vouchers will be sent at the end of the month.

An email will go out to all the above in the next few days, however, feel free to share your good news on twitter, on Facebook and wherever you’d like share and shout out your good news!

To everyone who submitted, whether your pitch was featured or not, congrats on a wonderful job, on an amazing selection and diversity of genre and category mixes. To those selected, whether you got five requests or none, know that your MS stood out to some 17 people within the industry and its only a matter of time before it stands out to the RIGHT agent or publisher 🙂

My Team are currently working on scorecards for ten pitches which made it to RESERVE status, the three top will have their pitches featured on this blog at the end of the month, while all ten will receive a scorecard feedback, also by the end of the month.

I’m looking forward to following the progress of all our featured pitches.

As the Magic Bunyips come out from hiding, it’s time to thank all the Bunnies for their hard work –

– come back tomorrow to learn which agent is behind each mask!

Which nest will get the most treats from our Masked Bunny Agents?

The Slush Bilbies have sorted through the entries to help the Nest Bloggers whittle down the entries. Now the top seventy-two entries have made it through and are waiting for agents to hop on by to make requests. Please remember that until the agents have finished making their selections, comments are for agents only. If you want to cheer on your favourite prior to then, you can do it in the comments of this post or, on per instructions on each of the Bloggers posts.

You can also show your support by leaving comments here or Tweeting about your favourites!

Remember, while the Agent Window is open, please do not leave comments on the individual pitch posts until after 8am 19th April

The Agent window will remain open from now until 8am April 19th USA EST Here’s a list and links to all the blogs & the pitches.

Good luck to everyone, may your nest be filled with lots of chocolaty requests!

Like the Nestpitch blog? It’s up for Best Blog Site 2014 (Australia) & there’s also a Peoples Choice Award. Voting is open to everyone worldwide & is anonymous, so I’ll never know if you voted or not (but if you do, thank you).

If you can spare a minute or two and would like to vote, here’s the link 🙂